Articles

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION AND TACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT (REVIEW) (C) 2007
By Rita Van Fleet

Detective Sergeant JB has been employed for 15 years as a criminal investigator in a small town in southern Mississippi. He is married with two daughters. In addition to his regular duties, JB is a trained hostage negotiator. While there is seldom a need for hostage negotiation in his small town, his skills are critical when the situation arises.

JB related that hostage incidents usually start as other crimes-often a robbery gone bad. The first officer on the scene attempts to establish a rapport with the criminals until the supervisor or negotiator arrives.

The police maintain control from start to finish. The only real options for the hostage taker(s) are arrest or death. The negotiator does not impose a time limit-they will work as long as it takes. The police assault is initiated only when an officer or hostage "drops"--when violence erupts.

Time is on the side of the negotiator who is not confined in a small area. The negotiator is in control and can intentionally slow things down. He controls what the people inside get and when they get it. He can turn off the electricity, turn up the heat and grant or deny food.

Hostage negotiators generally work in pairs apart from the other officers. One serves as the negotiator and the other ("the second") as the note taker. They can switch roles as necessary. Their first action is to establish communications with the criminal(s). The phone company can establish a direct open line between them and those inside the building or the negotiator tosses inside a "throw phone" in an impact-resistant "pelican case" that connects to a matching phone outside. Contrary to what is portrayed in the movies, negotiators do not work face-to-face. A failed face-to-face negotiation can result in additional hostages or precipitate violence.

JB likened hostage negotiation to a chess match with several basic principles in play.

(1) Maintain a calm approach to keep communications open and avoid violence.

(2) Attempt to obtain the release of hostages either through trading for food or convincing the criminal that it is in his best interests to release specific hostages. The release of a hostage is critical in the negotiation process to gain intelligence. The released hostage (escorted out protected by "ballistics shields") can describe the criminals and their weapons, relate what is happening inside, and report on the physical health of the criminals and other hostages.

(3) Don't give in to any demands that endanger anyone, especially do not give them alcohol.

(4) Plan for several hours down the line-do not get caught in a lie or give them false hope that they will get something. Towards the end, the negotiator plays on the criminals' feelings. He talks about the criminals' families and can even, if appropriate, allow phone contact with the families.

JB related that hostages react and are treated differently. Male hostages are likely to suffer more because they are perceived to be more of a threat to the criminals. The term "Stockholm Syndrome" describes the situation in which victims become sympathetic toward their captors and may refuse to leave the scene. Patty Hearst actually joined the group that kidnapped her and participated in criminal activity.

If a tactical assault becomes necessary a 50% hostage casualty rate is projected. The attack begins tear or pepper gas and a three-way assault on the "breech point"-from the top, the bottom, and rappelling. In one textbook case-the 16 Princess Gate incident in London in 1980-four of the five Iranian terrorists who had invaded the Iranian embassy were killed in Operation Nimrod by the Special Air Service (the equivalent of the US Delta Force). Two hostages lost their lives.

In summary, the ideal conclusion of any hostage situation is the release of all the hostages unharmed and the capture of the criminal(s). Well-trained and experienced hostage negotiators are critical to insure a successful outcome.

The preceding article is a summary of a program presented by a hostage negotiator at a meeting of the Gulf Coast Chapter of Romance Writers of America®. Submitted by Rita Van Fleet, GCCRWA Chapter Secretary. Rita is a registered nurse, certified teacher and holds a Doctorate in Education.